Sep. 14, 2012

Tony Friend

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Tony Friend, who has been identified as a suspect in the double homicide of Rebecca and Russell Porter, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a weapons charge. He could receive a sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors had charged Friend with possession of ammunition by a felon, stemming from a search of his home, which found weapons and ammunition.

Friend has been convicted of three prior felonies, including a 2002 unlawful use of a weapon and a 2004 domestic assault. Both were in Greene County. The third felony conviction occurred in Arkansas, according to court documents.

Under a plea agreement agreed to Wednesday, the government dismissed two other ammunition charges.

The agreement, documents show, does not exclude Friend from being prosecuted for other possible crimes, including murder or conspiracy.

Friend and his wife, Windy, have been named in court paperwork as suspects in the Porter deaths.

The skeletal remains of the Porters were found in remote Taney County in late July 2011. Taney County Coroner Kevin Tweedy said each died of gunshot wounds to the head.

A grand jury has recently been called in Taney County. Prosecutor Jeff Merrell declined to say whether or not the Portersí case will be reviewed by the grand jury, which is expected to wrap up its work near the end of the year.

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott, whose office has been investigating the homicides for more than a year, declined to comment on Friendís plea.

The Porters had been missing from their Willard home since April 2011. Their house was found unlocked, abandoned and emanating a strong bleach odor.

Greene County Sheriff's deputies executed a federal search warrant in June and arrested Tony and Windy Friend at their home at 3155 W. Brower St., Lot 10., Springfield.

Greene County prosecutors immediately charged the pair with drug possession but the charges were dropped in August. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Todd Myers declined to say why at the time.